General Counsel, Legal Services Division

Job Description

About us

Services Australia (the agency) is at the frontline of government service delivery, supporting millions of Australians. We support the economic, health and social wellbeing of Australia by delivering high-quality services and payments to the community on behalf of government. Our agency’s responsibilities include Centrelink, Medicare and Child Support services, as well as whole of government services such as myGov.

Our goal is to make government services simple, so people can get on with their lives. We’re modernising the way we work to deliver a simple, helpful, respectful and transparent experience for customers.

The Legal Services Division

The Legal Services Division is a large and dynamic Commonwealth legal practice managing one of the Commonwealth’s largest litigation practices, advising on cutting edge administrative law issues, emerging information law issues and a range of complex corporate and employment law issues. General Counsels provide legal advice and assistance to the Minister, the Chief Executive Officer and the Executive, and delivers legal services to the agency. Areas include:

•         Complex administrative law issues relating to social security, child support and health programmes.

•         Privacy and information law, including:

• assessing new agency projects, programmes, systems and initiatives which involve the management of personal information for compliance with privacy and secrecy obligations, including undertaking privacy impact assessments; and
• managing the Freedom of Information function of the agency including external review by the FOI Commissioner and the AAT.

•         Employment law matters, including advice and advocacy on employment law, industrial relation and work health and safety.

•         Complex commercial and ICT acquisition and licensing.

•         Complex procurement, contracting intellectual property, and commercial and property matters.

Immediate vacancy

There is an immediate vacancy for a General Counsel, Litigation. This role is responsible for provision of high-quality and timely strategic legal advice, advocacy and support in relation to the following agency functions:

·         External merit review (AAT/ART) and program litigation in Courts relating to:

• Social security
• Family assistance
• Health programs
• Child Support
• Debt Enforcement

·         Management of the agency’s administrative law and debt recovery litigation caseload and identification of key themes all related to legal and other broader risks.

The General Counsel, Litigation manages a large team of litigation and advocacy specialists operating across multiple Australian jurisdictions.  The Litigation branch manages a large and diverse caseload of administrative review appeals and judicial review cases.  A majority of cases are managed on behalf of other agencies under direct or standing instructions and protocols relating to the conduct and progression of those cases before Courts or Tribunals, as well as the Commonwealth’s model litigant obligations.

The General Counsel, Litigation is part of the Legal Services Division SES leadership team and is responsible for identification, reporting and management of key legal risks and issues, as part of broader enterprise, portfolio and Commonwealth legal risk management frameworks.

Roles may be filled on an ongoing or non-ongoing (fixed term) appointment.

An order of merit may be established to fill similar roles as they become available within 18-months from the date advertised.

The preferred location for this position is Canberra, however Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide or Melbourne may be considered for the right candidate.

Qualifications

Bachelor of Laws degree or equivalent
Admission as a legal practitioner in an Australian court
Eligibility to hold an unrestricted practising certificate

Eligibility

To apply you need to be an Australian citizen.

You will need to pass our pre-employment screening process, which includes a pre-employment check, and where relevant, a working with children and vulnerable people check.

You will also need, or have the ability to acquire an Australian Government security clearance, to the appropriate level for the position.  This will be arranged for you, if successful.

Apply

To obtain a candidate pack or submit an application please follow the link at http://beaumontandbeaumont.com.au/5704.

For a confidential conversation regarding the role, please contact Jonathan Beaumont on

02 6126 4500 or [email protected] quoting Ref No 5704.

RecruitAbility applies to this vacancy. Under the RecruitAbility scheme, you will be invited to participate in further assessment activity for the vacancy if you choose to apply under the scheme; declare you have a disability; and meet the minimum requirements for the job. For more information, see: http://www.apsc.gov.au/priorities/disability/recruitability.